DALLAS – As Republican leaders continue to work to garner support from the House Freedom Caucus for the American Health Care Act, Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) resident scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews released the following statement.
“Reports say that the Republican House Freedom Caucus is demanding the Republican replacement plan eliminate the Obamacare provision requiring insurers to accept anyone, keep children on their parents' policy until age 26 and cover a number of ‘essential benefits.’
The Freedom Caucus is doing exactly the right thing; members are simply trying to ensure that the Republican plan actually works, will lower costs and improve access to coverage.
The reason the Obamacare exchanges imploded, insurance premiums exploded and insurers dropped out is because of those provisions. If Republicans don't remove these poison pills, health insurance pools will likely collapse even faster than under Obamacare—if insurers are willing to sell policies at all.”